MPI President Bruce Phipps (left) and PSU faculty member Russ Rosmait stand with a new wax injection machine that was donated by MPI to PSU. The equipment is valued at $160,000.

MPI donates new wax injection machine to PSU

A new 25-ton wax injection machine, valued at approximately $160,000, was recently donated to Pittsburg State University by MPI, a worldwide leader in wax-room equipment, with headquarters in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Russ Rosmait can’t help but smile when talking about one of the newest pieces of equipment installed at the Kansas Technology Center.

A new 25-ton wax injection machine, valued at approximately $160,000, was recently donated to Pittsburg State University by MPI, a worldwide leader in wax-room equipment, with headquarters in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Russ Rosmait, professor of engineering technology, said the machine will be “fully integrated” into the investment casting curriculum.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have this state-of-the-art piece of equipment,” Rosmait said. “This will add a whole new level of learning to our investment casting program.”

Investment casting, also known as the lost wax process, involves crafting a wax piece and covering it with ceramic. The wax is then melted out and metal is poured in.

“This is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment,” Rosmait said. “This machine is capable of processes that our current equipment is not, and that should enhance student interest and add to the educational experience.”

Bruce Phipps, MPI president and founder, praised PSU for its investment casting program and said he is proud to have his company help contribute to its success.

“The program at Pitt State is excellent and needs the best equipment to aid in training tomorrow’s leaders in Investment Casting,” Phipps said. “My goal is to promote the values that Pitt State and the Investment Casting Institute work hard to instill - good business practices start with sound equipment and a high degree of process control. I believe this donation demonstrates my commitment to these values.”

The machine will be in operation during the 2013 summer session.

Rosmait praised MPI for the company’s generosity in making the donation.

“This is the type of machine we’ve wanted for quite some time,” Rosmait said, “but it’s always been out of our price range. So, we’re incredibly fortunate and grateful that MPI decided to invest in our program and donate this equipment to us.”

The donation does more than enhance the university’s metal casting program, Rosmait said. It also kicks off a campaign aimed at creating a Center of Excellence in Metal Casting at PSU.

The objectives of the CEMC would include producing top graduates in the metal casting industry, developing a state-of-the-art laboratory in which to educate students, becoming a permanent education and training resource for industry professionals and providing students with avenues to specialize in metal casting processes.

“We are embarking on an effort to create the Center of Excellence in Metal Casting to promote best practices, dissemination of knowledge and pragmatic leading-edge solutions in the area of metal casting processes,” Rosmait said.

Rosmait said he hopes to have the university and the College of Technology partner with various corporations and businesses to develop the partnership to create the CEMC.